Central Asia has escaped Soviet domination, but the newly independent
states have replicated communist repression. Nations like Kazakhstan
never really moved forward. Now it is retreating on religious as well
as political liberty. The U.S. and Europe have to decide whether to
allow the Kazakh government to take over leadership of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The Majilis, Kazakhstan’s lower house, has passed legislation
punishing unregistered religious organizations, targeting churches
(particularly Catholic and Orthodox) that cross territorial boundaries,
effectively barring proselytizing, censoring religious materials, and
requiring that children produce written permission from their parents
to attend religious events. The Majilis acted shortly after OSCE representatives
visited Astana to discuss the bill. Spokesman Jens-Hagen Eschenbaecher
plaintively explained: “We expressed our hope that our comments
on the draft would be fully taken into account. We obviously hope that
this still will be the case.”

Good luck.

Kazakhstan is not the only “stan” moving toward greater
repression. Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has approved new legislation
restricting religious liberty. Tajikistan’s legislature is considering
a similar measure limiting freedom of worship and conscience. Neither
Turkmenistan nor Uzbekistan protect this most fundamental liberty that
Americans take for granted. The attack on religious liberty “is
a regional trend,” says Felix Corley, editor of Forum 18, an
Oslo-based group that monitors religious repression.

What makes Kazakhstan stand out is the fact that the government is
set to take over as OSCE chairman in 2010. The vision is jarring: since
the Cold War, the OSCE’s mission has emphasized promoting freedom
in the newly liberated nations. As the Institute on Religion and Public
Policy recently pointed out in a letter to the OSCE’s governing
Ministerial Council: “Moving ahead with the Kazakh Chairmanship
in 2010 without any changes to this dangerous law undermines the human
rights basket of the OSCE and the political commitments that make the
OSCE a guarantor of fundamental rights.”

More than the OSCE's reputation is at risk. Giving Astana a pass by
allowing it to take up such a high-profile position would encourage
other would-be persecutors. International embarrassment remains a powerful
tool to deploy against violators of human rights. The West must consistently
demonstrate through its words and actions that religious liberty is
no less important than political freedom.

Kazakhstan is a largely Muslim state, though ethnic Russians and smaller
groups of Ukrainians and Belarusians trend Orthodox. Like those of
most authoritarian states, the Kazakh constitution formally provides
for freedom to worship. But Astana fears non-establishment groups outside
of its control.

Churches must register with the central authorities as well as local
governments. Registration can be denied or suspended. Lacking government
approval, churches may not even hold services, let alone conduct financial
activities or engage in media promotion. The United States Commission
on International Religious Freedom notes that “[S]ome Protestant
groups and other groups viewed by officials as non-traditional have
experienced long delays” in winning official registration. Astana
is particularly sensitive about foreign proselytizing. Reports the
State Department: “All literature and other materials to be used
to support missionary work must be provided with the registration application;
use of materials not vetted during the registration process is illegal.”

Registered groups generally operate without restriction. Anyone else,
however, is a government target. The authorities routinely break up
home churches — today’s analog of the First Century church
— and deport any foreigner with the temerity to engage in religious
activity without declaring himself to be a missionary. President Nursultan
Nazarbaev has denounced missionaries, calling for legislation “to
stop destructive phenomena such as religious radicalism and extremism.”

Official Kazakh attitudes toward religious liberty turned more hostile
last year. The Justice Ministry declared that “transferring to
other religious faiths represents treason to one's country and faith.” Attacks
on unregistered groups increased. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Hare
Krishnas suffered significant harassment even after registering. Then
came President Nazarbaev’s outburst. After that, the official
media broadcast and published stories critical of non-traditional groups.
Notes the State Department: “Several religious freedom advocates
maintained that the negative media stories were sponsored by the government
as part of its program to educate the public about the purported dangers
of religious extremism in the country and to lay the groundwork for
amendments to the religion law.” Forum 18 speaks of “a
climate of officially-incited intolerance of religious minorities.”

Kazakhstan Turns Ugly
Now the latest bill is moving forward. The requirements are nominally
objective, but almost certainly would sharply restrict the free exercise
of religious faith. The legislation, reports the State Department,
would “establish more restrictive procedures for registering
religious organizations; require all existing religious organizations
to reregister; prohibit smaller groups from preaching or teaching outside
of the group, producing religious literature, or maintaining worship
facilities open to the public; and require local government authorization
for the construction of a religious facility.” Penalties for
violating religious restrictions would be enhanced. Forum 18 observes
that “[T]he authorities seem particularly keen to deprive minority
religious communities of places of worship and other buildings.”

It is hard to imagine parliamentary approval of the new legislation
without President Nazarbaev’s support, but he still could veto
the measure. As Joe Grieboski, president of the Institute on Religion
and Public Policy points out, the proposal “is completely inconsistent
with fundamental human rights as it contravenes the principles of equality
and non-discrimination.”

Even if the legislation becomes law, Kazakhstan will not be the worst
religious persecutor: countries like North Korea and Saudi Arabia are
in a category of their own. Nevertheless, the measure represents a
major step backward.

Religious liberty should not be seen as merely an afterthought for
a liberal society. Observes Grieboski: “[A]s history has shown
us, religious freedom has direct bearing on every aspect of society.
Freedom of religion or belief is arguably the most fundamental human
right.” A government unwilling to respect freedom of conscience
is unlikely to respect human life and dignity. Indeed, protection of
religious liberty represents the proverbial canary in the mine, signaling
a government’s (and sometimes a people’s) willingness to
protect political and economic freedom.

Safeguarding religious liberty may never be the highest priority of
Washington. But in the case of Kazakhstan, America and Europe can easily
strike a blow for freedom of conscience. The OSCE, to which the U.S.
belongs, should announce that Astana will not chair the organization
unless the Nazarbaev government rejects the new restrictions and reverses
the larger hostile environment behind them. If the Western allies instead
reward Astana, notes Grieboski, they risk compromising “the integrity
and authority of the OSCE and its dedication to religious freedom and
corresponding human rights.”